Thomas' attorney files motions ahead of retrialPosted: Mar 13, 2013 11:54 AM
KNOXVILLE (WATE) - The defense filed several motions Monday ahead of the next Christian-Newsom retrial.
George Thomas' attorneys want to prevent pictures of the victims from being seen by the jury, saying the pictures would be unfairly prejudicial.
Attorneys for George Thomas, convicted once in the case, are asking for special jury instructions covering Tennessee's criminal responsibility law.
Another motion from the defense team seeks to suppress a statement given by Thomas after he was arrested in Kentucky. They claim he was improperly arrested without a warrant, making any statements he gave to police inadmissible.
Also, Thomas' attorneys want what's called a Bill of Particulars, laying out details of the prosecution's case against Thomas.
They also want to limit or exclude testimony from medical examiner Dr. Darinka Mileusnic-Polchan, saying her testimony went beyond her expertise.
Other requests included prohibiting the wearing of buttons or t-shirts in support of the victims, which the defense says would risk biasing the jury, and a request to stop what the defense characterized as improper arguments from the prosecution. The defense says they overstepped permissible boundaries during Thomas' first trial.
Thomas was granted a retrial in the wake of ex-Judge Richard Baumgartner's prescription painkiller addiction.
The start date for his retrial was set for May 13 in District 1 court. Pretrial motions will take place on March 25.
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